Are you a good sheep?

 Psalm 100:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

 2  Serve the Lord with gladness! 

Come into his presence with singing! 

 3  Know that the Lord, he is God! 

It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

 4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, 

and his courts with praise! 

Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

 5  For the Lord is good; 

his steadfast love endures forever, 

and his faithfulness to all generations. 

God is often referred to as Lord because it is a term which indicates to us that He is the one with the right to have authority and power over us due to His superiority. Therefore it is expected that He is served and obeyed. This sounds right when we apply these attributes to God, but is a bit scary when we apply them to humans who also carry this title! I am sure you can think of some lords or leaders who have got the balance of these attributes wrong. Yet, thankfully, there is only One who is The Lord and ‘he is God’. He has superiority over any other lords, and he deserves, not requires, our service. He has authority and power and should be obeyed, yet The Lord Our God should also be enjoyed and served with ‘gladness’ (v2). In life there are those who have more authority than others, so it is necessary to serve or obey them such as politicians, police and parents. It is not always a joy to serve or obey them, but it is required through the laws of the land and the Law of God. Yet, Our Lord, the Lord our God, it is possible to serve Him with gladness! 

Serving God is a form of worship and you can do it whilst making ‘a joyful noise’. Doing what God says should cause you to sing, make happy noises and be glad. If not, then you are not serving right. Maybe your heart isn’t in what you are doing, perhaps you are doing something you have always done but you shouldn’t be doing it any more, or how you are serving God is difficult. Whatever the reason, if you are not enjoying the tasks you do for God, ask yourself why. It may be that you find it tough and you need God’s help, maybe you should give something up, or perhaps you need to recapture God’s heart and passion for what you are tasked with. For the instruction in verse 2 is to ‘Serve the Lord with gladness’.

The Lord our God also takes care of us. We are His; creation, family, people and sheep. He oversees you and protects you because you belong to Him. He spent time designing and building you, and He is happy that He did, so happy in fact that He calls you His child. You are not ornament to look at, but you are a useful being made in His image to demonstrate who He is to the world for you are one of ‘his people’. God has also placed you in His ‘pasture’ where you are protected and safe, so that you know where you belong. You have been designed to be in God’s kingdom, His pasture, for you are one of His sheep. Just like a sheep, you need care, direction, providing for and protection. There are things that you cannot see that could cause you harm. God sees and knows what they are, so keep close to Him and follow Him for He will guard and guide you. When you stay close to God, even if you fall down a ditch, He is close by to help you back up. Another great thing about being a sheep is that you do not have to do much. There’s not a lot of responsibility or busy-ness going on when you look at sheep in a field is there? They might be wandering around, lying down or munching grass, but that is about it. For the sheep rely on a good shepherd to take care of them, to protect them from danger, and get them to the place with the best grass. They just have to stay close and follow. They don’t work hard, they are allowed to just ‘be’ appreciating the life and protection of the shepherd and the boundaries of the pasture. 

Are you a good sheep? Do you allow God to look out for you, lead and guide you without taking control? Are you content living with God, just being with Him and the other sheep? You are one of ‘the sheep of his pasture’. You get to be where the shepherd is, enjoying the land He owns - you have access to all He has got! This is the love, kindness care and protection of the Lord Our God, are you appreciating it?

God, the Lord is someone you can follow who is trustworthy, who knows you intimately for He designed you, He is greater than any other leader, and He invites you close into His presence and even into His kingdom. He will provide for you, care for you, rescue, protect and love you. When you consider Him, surely it is easy to ‘make a joyful noise’, give Him praise and to be grateful to Him! 

Appreciate God. Follow Him and allow yourself to enjoy the beautiful privilege of being His sheep. ‘For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations’!

In God's shadow

Psalm 91:1–16 (ESV): 

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

 2  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust.” 

 3  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler 

and from the deadly pestilence. 

 4  He will cover you with his pinions, 

and under his wings you will find refuge; 

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 

 5  You will not fear the terror of the night, 

nor the arrow that flies by day, 

 6  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, 

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 

 7  A thousand may fall at your side, 

ten thousand at your right hand, 

but it will not come near you. 

 8  You will only look with your eyes 

and see the recompense of the wicked. 

 9  Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— 

the Most High, who is my refuge— 

 10  no evil shall be allowed to befall you, 

no plague come near your tent. 

 11  For he will command his angels concerning you 

to guard you in all your ways. 

 12  On their hands they will bear you up, 

lest you strike your foot against a stone. 

 13  You will tread on the lion and the adder; 

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

 14  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; 

I will protect him, because he knows my name. 

 15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; 

I will be with him in trouble; 

I will rescue him and honour him. 

 16  With long life I will satisfy him 

and show him my salvation.” 

Can you imagine living in the shadow of God?!

If you live as a follower of God, then you, ‘abide in the shadow if the Almighty’ because He has invited you into His presence, and you have opted to walk with Him. God overshadows you. This means you are safe and protected and you know His presence wherever you tread. You are privileged to be so close. Due to your proximity to God, He can save you from the enemy’s traps and heal you from sickness and fear.  

However, you still see and experience life in this world. Even from this space of comfort and shade, of closeness and protection, you see fighting, disease, deeds of darkness and destruction. You are not oblivious or immune to the suffering and pain of this world even when you know whose presence you are in. You will see the pain others go through as they decide to live outside the shadow of God. The psalm tells us that though thousands around us may be afflicted and harmed, we will know God's protection and provision. Those that follow God have a different experience of life due to their proximity to the Almighty, but it doesn't mean that life doesn't hurt or isn't difficult at times. For those outside of the shadow of God are neighbours, friends and loved ones and seeing them suffer causes grief. You will see the results of unholy, unfaithful living outside the protection of the Father and you will feel sadness and pain. 

Even though you can be confident that you are protected and covered by God, you will witness those not in God’s kingdom suffering in a way you will not. For you can always know God's promise to you is this, 'Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15  When he calls to me, I will answer him'. You have the beautiful assurance that you will be delivered, protected and cared for because you are known to God and you know God. You are within His shadow, so you are within earshot and can reach out and hold His hand. Ultimately, your future is secure for wherever you are, God is present whether in this life or the next. You have eternal security, it is well for your soul, but you know many for who this is not true. 

As you live in the shadow of God, you can know and appreciate the security of your position and at the same time mourn the lack of faith of those around you, as you see them suffer there may be little you can do but prat. Yet remember the power and goodness of the One you are walking and talking with. It is not your responsibility to go and rescue those outside of the kingdom. You should not leave God’s shadow even for a moment to go and try to help or persuade them. The best help you can give is by taking advantage of your proximity to God. Keep walking in God's shadow so you can talk to Him on their behalf, and demonstrate the joy and peace of a life lived in the comfort and shelter of God’s love. You, as one close to God, are saved from experiencing the lonely isolation, fear, hopelessness and torment of living life outside of His protection and love. Even when disaster strikes and plagues come along, you can know that God will deliver you as you ‘hold fast to me in love’. So, the best aid you can give to others is maintaining your posture of proximity with Almighty, powerful, loving God. From His side you can see and hear what God is doing. By being close to God and knowing the joy and power of His shadow over you, you can show others the beauty of living in step with Him. When they see that disaster and disease do not affect you in the same way, that you have peace, assurance and contentment due to your relationship with God, i wonder how others will respond. When they are having a rough time and you let them know you are praying, i wonder what they will think when their situation changes. When you speak kindness and truth when others do not, when you come at challenges with a different motivation and mindset, i wonder what others will see. 

Your responsibility and duty for others is best served by investing in your relationship with God. Getting close to Him makes a positive impact on those around you. You have the invitation to dwell ‘in the shelter of the Most High’ and ‘abide in the shadow of the Almighty’. Is that where you are living? Being close to Him is good not only for you, but also for those around you. Who knows, by demonstrating your relationship with God, maybe others will also come to benefit from being in His shadow too.

Is God's reputation on the line?

 Psalm 31:1–24 (ESV): 

1  In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; 

let me never be put to shame; 

in your righteousness deliver me! 

2  Incline your ear to me; 

rescue me speedily! 

Be a rock of refuge for me, 

a strong fortress to save me! 

3  For you are my rock and my fortress; 

and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 

4  you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, 

for you are my refuge. 

5  Into your hand I commit my spirit; 

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 

6  I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, 

but I trust in the Lord. 

7  I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, 

because you have seen my affliction; 

you have known the distress of my soul, 

8  and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; 

you have set my feet in a broad place. 

9  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; 

my eye is wasted from grief; 

my soul and my body also. 

10  For my life is spent with sorrow, 

and my years with sighing; 

my strength fails because of my iniquity, 

and my bones waste away. 

11  Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, 

especially to my neighbours, 

and an object of dread to my acquaintances; 

those who see me in the street flee from me. 

12  I have been forgotten like one who is dead; 

I have become like a broken vessel. 

13  For I hear the whispering of many— 

terror on every side!— 

as they scheme together against me, 

as they plot to take my life. 

14  But I trust in you, O Lord; 

I say, “You are my God.” 

15  My times are in your hand; 

rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

16  Make your face shine on your servant; 

save me in your steadfast love! 

17  O Lord, let me not be put to shame, 

for I call upon you; 

let the wicked be put to shame; 

let them go silently to Sheol. 

18  Let the lying lips be mute, 

which speak insolently against the righteous 

in pride and contempt. 

19  Oh, how abundant is your goodness, 

which you have stored up for those who fear you 

and worked for those who take refuge in you, 

in the sight of the children of mankind! 

20  In the cover of your presence you hide them 

from the plots of men; 

you store them in your shelter 

from the strife of tongues. 

21  Blessed be the Lord, 

for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me 

when I was in a besieged city. 

22  I had said in my alarm, 

“I am cut off from your sight.” 

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy 

when I cried to you for help. 

23  Love the Lord, all you his saints! 

The Lord preserves the faithful 

but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 

24  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, 

all you who wait for the Lord! 

This psalm seems to be a prayer of a disordered, troubled mind. One who is in imminent danger and is trying to figure out what to do and desperate for help. Urgently seeking God in the midst of the ‘terror on every side’. It appears that outside circumstances and internal thoughts are producing a time of great disturbance for the writer. For example at the start of the psalm it says, ‘Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me’. Asking God for refuge and protection, yet also knowing that God provides it shows the distress and disordered nature of his mind. David needs to know security and protection and so is asking God for it, yet he also knows that God IS those things already. What a natural, heart-felt response to a time of desperation and attack. David knows who God is and asking for Him to be who he knows He is, because at the present moment he is threatened and hounded and struggling to see God’s protection, guidance, security, and strength. This whole psalm demonstrates clearly the disordered, rushed prayer of desperation. Don't you find it comforting to have this written to know that it is ok when we pray the same way?! When you find circumstances overwhelming and distressing, it’s ok to speak out even if it seems jumbled. God can make sense of it and hears your heart. 

David flits from; calling for rescue to knowing God rescues, trusting in God, talking about how terrified he is, requesting God’s grace and acknowledging His goodness. This shows the devoted love of God that David has. Even when he is surrounded by enemies, is terrified and weak, he still acknowledges the presence of God and seeks Him for his rescue. David does not accuse God of having caused the situation or say that God has run off and left him. He still knows God is his refuge and rock. it is just David is aware that he is struggling to see that right now because of the turmoil and danger he is in. 

Yet, even in his terror and desperation David acknowledges that, ‘for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me’. David still trusts and looks to God for the way to go, the way to respond and live. He knows that God does and will guide him because David trusts in Him and God will help because God’s reputation is on the line if He doesn’t! As a known, committed follower of God, David recognises that God will be glorified through this situation. Are you aware of that in the midst of chaos and distress? That whatever is happening now is not the end of the story, but restoration and the glorification of God is waiting to be revealed?! What an expectation and assurance David has of God’s intervention, and of his standing with God. David has shown his commitment to following God in many different circumstances. He does so when things are going well and when things aren’t because even when situations change God doesn’t. God is still good, loving, strong, secure and helpful no matter what you are facing. Accepting this truth and trusting in Him as David does is the reality of living life as a follower of God. Being a committed christian means accepting the nature of God through every circumstance of life, leaning into Him, trusting and obeying Him even when it looks like life as you have known it is over. Then you too can build the same level of trust and dependence on God that David has. You can still be assured that even in the most terrible of situations that God will do you good for His name’s sake. 

So, consider the faith you have. Are you committed and assured of God's relevance and presence in all circumstances?  Are you living knowing that God’s reputation could be on the line if He does not rescue you from a time of trouble and distress? Will God restore you for his 'names sake'? Clearly God did rescue David. Later in the psalm he says, ‘The Lord preserves the faithful’. David’s dedication to following God paid off - he survived, was rescued and strengthened because he remained faithful. Do you remain faithful to God when the going gets tough? 

God rewards the committed, faithful follower, 'how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you' God will reward those who are loyalty and dedicated to Him. Not only will he rescue and protect you from trouble, but He will also share his goodness with you which he has even 'stored up'! How kind of God is that?! The question is, are you living in such a way to receive God's goodness and to expect His glorification in and through your life?

Psalm 127 - part 2

In part 1 of this psalm, we looked at the first two verses, today will will be focussing on v3-5. With the recollection that labouring, watching and toiling without God is all in vain;

 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. 

*1* Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

*2* It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 

*3* Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 

*4* Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 

*5* Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. 

After the initial 2 verses showing us that working hard, worrying and looking out for others is pointless if God is not in it, Solomon then speaks about children. I think it is appropriate that Solomon tells us about the everyday things of life that we can worry about before he gets onto talking us about kids. Most of the time they are the aspect of life that parents worry about most! Therefore we need good practice at trusting God with the other things before we can even consider handing over our children to God. I think that is why this psalm is ordered that way - by first telling us that worrying about work, finances and safety is all in vain if God is there, before speaking into raising children. We have got to get our security in God in  those things first before we can even entertain the thought that our children can be entrusted to God because that is much harder to do. We need the very real practice of trusting God. When we can trust God for our future, work, rest and protection rather than our own abilities and hard work, and we have seen Him be faithful in those, then we can begin to entertain the idea that He can be trusted with our children too. It is easy to say that we trust God with all of these things, but it is very difficult to actually do. 

Verse 3 clearly tells us that children are a blessing. Sometimes we know that, other times we forget it! Children are in fact a, ‘heritage from the Lord’ - what an amazing statement! The word heritage is about having an ‘individual possession’ or an ‘allotted portion’. Children are ‘allotted’ to us ‘from the Lord’. They are not really ours, but we get to share life with them and guide them. Children are entrusted to us by God as a part of our life. We have part-ownership in our kids, not full ownership as we sometimes mistakenly believe. God has shown me this recently when things have been incredibly difficult, and i have told Him that i cannot do it. I cannot parent this child and i do not know what to do. God clearly told me 'give them to me then'. It was then i remembered this very thing; our children are not really ours. They were always God's first. I was battling, stressing and worrying (in vain!) when it is not fully my responsibility to do so, as these children are ‘allotted’ to us. We have part-ownership and we can go wrong and get stressed out when we forget and try to fix it all ourselves. That is what i was trying to do. I was praying and asking for guidance and at my wits end, so i was trusting God, but I wasn't handing over to Him. Does that make sense? Sometimes we can hold on too tight. We feel the full responsibility, but we were never meant to carry it by ourselves. It can be easy to pray and know that God is present even when things are falling apart, but then comes the reality that we need to give up trying to fix things and let God do it. That is where i was and it is scary and painful realising that you are not enough, but it gives God a chance to work and show what he can do. It is also a massive relief when you are able to emotionally do that. Remember that children are an, 'heritage from the Lord'. We can easily forget that and mistakenly believe that they are ours. Yet we share part-ownership. God is also invested and involved in the lives of our kids, and sometimes we need to let go and let Him influence, guide and guard. 

‘Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.’ A warrior knows how to use his arrows. He takes care of them, protects them and refines them before he sets them loose. As a parent or influential adult in a young person's life, you can invest in guiding and refining them. The purpose of an arrow is to fly. A warrior does all he can to ensure it flies straight and hits the mark. That is our responsibility too - Children will one day fly - what are you directing them to when they do? 

One thing I often say as a parent is, “if my kids have got hold of who God is in their lives then I know they will be alright.” It doesn’t mean their lives will be easy or straight forward, but it does mean that their souls will be well. If our children know they have access to and can have a relationship with God, then they can handle life well. No matter what happens. So, it is my duty as a parent to do my best to model a good relationship with God and invite them into it and let them know they can have the same. To me, this is ensuring that the arrows fly well. Our children have purpose, meaning and a direction in life to follow. Our responsibility is to help, encourage and 'train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it' (proverbs 22:6). What great comfort that is.

Psalm 127 - part 1

As you enter a new year, have you thought about what are you worried about this coming year? Are you concerned for your family? Your community? Your nation? Your life? finances? security? Work? 

Take comfort as you read the following psalm;

127

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. 

*1* Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

*2* It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 

If you are starting off the year worried, pause to consider, are you letting God build into your life? Or are you striving under your own power and inspiration? 

‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain’. It may be something good or positive that you are trying to build, but is God in it? Is He in command and are you doing the part He wants you to? If not, then you are basically wasting your time. Going round in stressful circles and not achieving much. God wants to be allowed to take the stress, the time frames, the projections, hopes and aspirations and show you what He can do. You don’t need to do it all or try to fix everything. For God knows what will succeed and what will fail, so surely it is a good idea to get His take on things. If you are fed up of your, ‘labour in vain’, then why not invite God into what you are trying to build and see what He can do with it all. As you begin this year, before you make those resolutions, why not take time to consider is it in vain, or is God helping and motivating you? 

It may not be work, finance or making something in life that you’re concerned about, what about safety and security? The same goes for those aspects of life too. God is the best watchman - He doesn’t fall asleep or get distracted. A watchman looks out and spots trouble coming, checking the security and safety of what they have responsibility for. God can be a watchman for you. It doesn’t mean that trouble is going to disappear, but you can rest assured that God is there watching and expecting. Therefore you can rest. You can relax and rest as eventhough you do not know what is going to happen, you can have the assurance that God does and He is ready and waiting. There is no point losing sleep over the things that you are worried about but can do nothing to change, instead ask God to watch over the things that concern you. Having sleepless nights and troubled thoughts is in vain - it doesn’t change anything other than the fact you will be tired and grumpy! How about this year, give yourself a break from stress and worry and hand things over to the faithful watchman who can guide, protect and look after each person that you care  about.

Oh, v2, I am sure many will be living this right now, ‘anxious toil’. Christmas is known as a time when many overspend, and January a time when people regret it. In the world at present it is also a time of financial uncertainty, increased bills, unknown income. A time when people look at their bank balance and wonder how on earth they are going to be at zero at the end of the month let alone have money leftover. Yet here in v2, we are clearly told not to worry and stress about it. We can work ourselves into ‘anxious toil’, trying to burn the candle at both ends just trying to make ends meet, puzzling over the bank balance or working hard to try and earn a bit more, the reality is even then we don’t always manage to make it work. What does working like that achieve? Anxiety, tiredness, stress, sickness; ‘anxious toil’. This verse tells us it is futile. Instead we can know rest and sleep even when we are concerned about work, bills etc.

How? By knowing that you are ‘his beloved’ and He wants to give you a break. If you are one of God’s children, then you are his beloved, and as someone dearly loved and cared for, you can trust that God has got it all in hand. He can give you rest from anxiety and toil when you really trust Him. Know who you are to Him, then that will give you peace and comfort. Your situation may not change, but when you trust God to love you, then you will find rest. Not just sleep, but the rest you need from the stresses and strains of life too. 

These first 2 verses show that there is nothing too big for God. He can handle your dreams, your prospects, your household, family, work life, finances, safety and protection. God can take care of all of it. Are you trusting Him to?